Hi! I am a patient with Cape and Islands Plastic Surgery. I know many people don’t exactly understand what CoolPeel is, or does, so I thought I’d document my journey to help you decide if it’s right for you.
What Is Tetra Cool Peel?
CoolPeel works to eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots, revealing a fresher, younger-looking face. I had some fine lines on my forehead from aging, and definitely some sunspots from not wearing sunscreen in the ‘80s. I mean, who knew about the ozone back then?! But, yes, my face needed a bit of help. I mean, you can never be too rich, too thin, or too youthful in appearance. Right? Okay, so I added that last part…
(Disclaimer: I did get Botox on my forehead from Cape and Islands Plastic Surgery before this, which is why I may already look pretty amazing. Ha-ha).
The Tetra Cool Peel Process
So, here’s how the process went: first, I had to come in for a consult, and they took some photos of me “before” the treatment. I was also prescribed some medicine to take the morning of, to reduce any chance of an infection that rarely occurs.
Upon arriving for my treatment, Zara Bogorff, RN, greeted me, and we went into the exam room. She applied a thin layer of numbing cream to my face using what looked like a fat popsicle stick.
As you see, I was happy here, so it didn’t hurt at all. I was also sort of laughing and embarrassed for myself that I was documenting this!
Getting Numbing Cream
Before The CoolPeel Treatment
Once the numbing cream was applied, I waited for about 45 minutes for it to go into effect. I sat there comfortably, just doing work and talking on the phone. There are, however, TVs in the room, and you can sit back, relax, and enjoy Good Morning America if that’s your jam!
After my face numbed, I went into a different exam room for my CoolPeel treatment. Here’s a photo of me with the laser behind me in the background. It sort of looks like a creature from Star Wars. Maybe C3PO’s distant relative?
After Getting Numbing Cream
A Quick CoolPeel Treatment
Next, I lay down, put on some protective goggles, and Zara got to work. She slowly applied the laser to different points all over my face. It made a sort of beeping noise as it landed, kind of like what a scanner at the grocery store sounds like.
I will admit, it did hurt a bit as the laser hit my skin, and it smelled sort of funny. That’s why they have this vacuum in the room, which I could hear along with the scanning sound. Overall, however, it was not painful. I couldn’t see anything with the goggles on, but that was the most unnerving part. It was kind of like being on Space Mountain at Disney Land, where you’re in the complete dark and have no idea what’s happening, but it’s fun?
The treatment was over in about 10 minutes. Very quick! Zara gave me some Aquaphor, and she told me to remember to apply it regularly to keep my skin from drying out. This is essential because your face does get very dry and feels sort of leathery or rough in certain spots.
Next, I left and returned to work. I wasn’t in any pain. There was zero downtime!
CoolPeel Treatment
After Tetra Cool Peel
Four hours later, I went home, and this is what my face looked like (P.S.— I am only not smiling anymore, because I wanted to let the surgeons have these photos for the future, and NO ONE smiles in them. It would look odd. I was not miserable, even though I look like I was arrested and posing for a mugshot. My face was red, but not that bad. This is around 6 p.m.
However, that night, my face was very red and hot. I felt like I had a terrible sunburn. I needed to apply an ice pack, and when I put cubes on my face to cool it, they would melt within seconds. Also, I appear to be greasy, because I have so much Aquaphor on my face, and it got into my hairline. Ha-ha! This is around 11 p.m.
Immediately After Treatment
Before Bed – Same Day as My Treatment
When I went to bed, I was told to sleep with my head elevated, so I used two pillows. I slept fine. No problems.
The next day, I went to work and applied Aquaphor regularly. My face still felt a bit hot and sunburnt and started to feel like it had patches of rough skin. Here I am Day 2. The first photo is in the morning, around 8 a.m., and the next one is later that day in my car.
All went well, overall. By day four, you could not really tell I had the treatment.
Day 2 – Morning After Treatment
Day 2 – Recovery
Two Weeks After My CoolPeel Treatment
For the next two weeks, I continued to apply face cream, and I gradually saw my skin get back to normal. BUT, it was a “new normal,” which you can see here at two weeks. The CoolPeel treatment requires three treatments to get the full effect. I haven’t been back for the next two yet. But, so far, so good! Hope this helps you to make your own CoolPeel decision.
Two Weeks Later
